A man who attacked three police officers after being woken in a busy shopping centre car park has been given a two-month suspended prison sentence.

Eamon Doyle lashed out at the constables, kicking and punching them during a mid-afternoon outburst of violence in West Belfast , prosecutors said.

The 36-year-old also inflicted a blow to a civilian detention officer while in custody.

Doyle, of Marlborough Avenue in the city, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour and four assault charges.

Belfast Magistrates' Court heard police went to the Park Centre on Donegall Road on September 11 last year following reports that Doyle was sleeping in the car park.

He became aggressive, shouting and swearing at officers as they helped him to his feet.

Doyle was put into handcuffs but repeatedly kicked out during an incident witnessed by others in the car park.

He assaulted two policemen and a policewoman, causing injuries to the hand and knee.

Defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna told the court his client had been battling alcohol addiction at the time.

He revealed that Doyle later sought help at Clonard Monastery in West Belfast. "This incident was something of a wake-up call," Mr McKenna said.

Passing sentence for what he described as serious attacks on public servants, Deputy District Judge Gerard Trainor told Doyle he couldn't "dip in and out" of attempts to deal with drinking issues. "You're either in or out for life," he advised.